Coffee Beverage

Health Effects Of Coffee Beverage

Scientific research on coffee' s health effects has taken a new turn recently. It appears that the image of coffee beverage as a culprit is changing now to one of an innocent drink. Coffee' s main ingredient, caffeine, is notorious for being an addictive stimulant. Now some positive effects are being seen so as to balance the health risks associated with coffee.

Health Benefits Of Coffee Beverage

It has been studied that consuming 100 to 200 mg of caffeine (about 1 to 2 cups of coffee) makes one alert and vigilant, and enables one to perform complex functions while decreasing fatigue by stimulating certain areas of the brain. Moderate amount of coffee consumption has been found to boost cognitive function, including vigilance, learning, memory, and mood state. Recent research concludes that the risk for type-2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes is lower among people who regularly drink coffee than those who don't drink it. Coffee has also been found to reduce the developing of gallstones. It has the potential to discourage the development of colon cancer, and also lower the risk of liver diseases. A significant finding reveals coffee beverage as capable of reducing the risk of Parkinson' s disease. For those who have to bear greater exertion and exhausting duties, moderate coffee consumption works wonders. It enhances endurance in long-duration physical activities and yields better performance. Coffee helps in fighting nervous decline associated with sleep deprivation. However, moderation in use is the key to all these benefits.

Harmful Effects Of Coffee Beverage

Despite these recent findings, coffee is far from being an innocent drink. Besides being charged with addictive property, caffeine has been known to increase heart rate and blood pressure, and occasionally cause irregular heartbeat. Caffeine use at half an hour to one hour before sleep can delay sleep, decrease total sleep time, and decrease sleep quality. Hence, the timings of coffee consumption are important in reducing its detrimental effects. Besides coffee, caffeine commonly occurs in tea and chocolate. Effects of caffeine vary among individuals depending mostly on the amount and regularity of consumption. Regular use of more than 350 mg of caffeine per day produces physical dependence on it. The effects of coffee on problems like women's health issues (breast cancer and osteoporosis) remain undecided. What is clear so far is that all of these negative effects are rooted not in using coffee but in excessive consumption of coffee beverage. Genetic factors are also now regarded to play their role in individual response to caffeine.

(c)  Coffee - Tyler's Articles 2006